A daily diary by John Cossham, who tries to live a 'green' and ethical life......
Daily blog entries for several years but now just occasional diary updates. The 'pages' section is being expanded and updated.

Wednesday, 4 March 2009

Wednesday 4th March 09

I woke at 8am and took our youngest to school and came back via the trashed woodland to collect more bits of demolished tree.

Gill had already gone to art, walking up to Osbaldwick to do some 'pointillism'.

I wrote my blog for yesterday, and sent a copy of the letter to the Vicar of Heslington with whom I'm friendly. She asked me to copy her in to anything I was sending to the school when I chatted to her a while back expressing my unhappiness with the School's environmental performance... she is also a Governor or Board member.

Then, a phone call from Councillor Waller, trained Rotter and leader of City of York Council. He said he's received my email and was surprised to hear about this as a school near his house is successfully composting. Later, he sent me an email saying he was taking action! I felt quite elated! I am glad someone is doing something.

I spent a little bit of time in the garden, starting to load up the Compostumbler again. But came in for lunch and then spent some nice times with Gill who was busy in the kitchen and then ironed my work clothes. I loaded up my trailer with all the Fiddlesticks stuff and at 3 set off for Riccall, going exactly the same way as on the 28th January, via Heslington, Fulford, Naburn, and then the cycle track all the way down to Riccall. I arrived at the cycle track at 3.30 and Riccall by 4, and my gig started at 4.30. I had a quick chat with my handler... she confessed that the youngsters had not made juggling balls (as I'd suggested) and they'd not done any circussy practice at all. So I said that I'd just repeat the show, with plenty of participation, and that children were usually completely happy with repeats. There were a few new audience members too, which was good. So, 25 Rainbows and about 10 grown-ups and 3 or 4 pre-Rainbows and younger siblings. The show went well. I finished on time. I got paid for both days work.

And I was on the road again by 5.45 and was soon off the road and onto the Riccall to Naburn cycle track. I stopped several times to pick up litter... mainly aluminium cans, but got home on the dot of 7pm. Gill had made a simple but filling Bulgar wheat meal and I had this whilst watching Inside Out... which had the John Foster living on a pound-a-day piece, and me giving him tips. This is now on iPlayer, I'm on at about 9 mins 28 seconds... just at the beginning of his piece. See:http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00j20br/Inside_Out_North_East_and_Cumbria_04_03_2009/

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About Me

I am a very enthusiastic 'green' and am involved in a range of projects and community groups which are directly connected with sustainability. These include the Green Party, York in Transition, St Nicholas Fields , Frack-Free York, The World Naked Bike Ride, Alternatives to Violence Project, and others. . . . . . . . . .
I am happily married with two children, and am unconventional and a free thinker, with a very tolerant wife! . . . . . . . . .
I work as an entertainer, 'Professor Fiddlesticks' teaching circus skills and making people happy, since 1992. see wwww.professorfiddlesticks.co.uk
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A few years ago, I wrote a blog and column for Community Care, see www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/green-living/ .
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In early 2010 I was invited by the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce to apply for Fellowship. . . . . . .
To contact me 'off blog' either find me on Facebook or email me at
jscossham(at)gmail(dot)com